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03 June 2012

Royal Fashion Awards: The Thames River Pageant

A landmark celebration for the Diamond Jubilee today: a flotilla of 1,000 boats on the Thames in a magnificent parade for Her Majesty. It was cold and rainy, but do you think that stopped our fair royals from turning out in style? No!

Best Diamond Girl

Queen Elizabeth

A one of a kind outfit for a one of a kind event! Made of course by Angela Kelly (and reported to have taken a year to plan and create), this is one impressive description: white bouclé with a silk organza frill, threaded with silk ribbon and embroidered with gold, silver and ivory paillettes with Swarovski crystal embellishment. The hat, including hand dyed feathers, sweeps up to make sure everyone can see Her Majesty’s smiling face – and to echo the waves of the Thames. And to top it off, she pinned the Jardine Star Brooch on her shoulder. I thought she looked gorgeous.

Best Queen Mum Impression

The Duchess of Cornwall

What do you get when you let Philip Treacy's brain run wild in the late Queen Mother's hat collection? This, methinks. Her long Anna Valentine coat in cream with lovely detailing is just a touch more elegant, though.

Best Use of Red

The Duchess of Cambridge

Taking full advantage of the one day in the year when red is actually the wallflower color choice (seriously, did you see that boat?), Catherine rocked her crimson McQueen. Bonus points for the Strathearn tartan scarf in her hand (she’s the Countess of Strathearn) and for the seafaring brooch with twin silver dolphins given to her by the Royal Navy Submarine Service, of which her hubby is Commodore in Chief. (So now we have polar bears and dolphins…what will be next in the Duch’s zoo-themed brooch collection? Crossing my fingers for a sloth.)

Best Spirit

All These Ladies

Left to right: the Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice, Princess
Eugenie, and the Duchess of Gloucester (Bea and Eug appeared at a street party, then donned coats for
the boat)

These ladies just looked like they were having the most fun of all on their boat, waving like maniacs with flags included and capturing everything with their mobiles. (Precisely what I would do and so would you - don't lie.) Must be good to draw the party boat assignment. So we’ll reward that, since a lot of what I see here is more worthy of a worst dressed list, I’m afraid.

Best in Bundled Up

Princess Michael of Kent

Can’t knock a girl for dressing for the cold and wet weather! You go on, Marie Christine.

Best in Kids

Lady Louise Windsor

L to R: Lady Louise Windsor, Viscount Severn(children of the Earl and Countess of Wessex)

Flags and Union Jack colors? Perfect!

Best in Uniform

Everybody!

L to R: the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Earl of Wessex

L to R: the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Michael of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester

I can’t be forced to pick a favorite today, you know what shiny things do to my attention span and LOOK at all those medals. I was especially delighted to see William back in his RAF uniform after several appearances in his Irish Guards uniforms, though I can’t help but wish he would have made it an occasion for his Navy uniform (my favorite of them all).